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Influenza is spread through normal breathing

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 15.08.2021
 
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15 July 2018, 09:00

Probably, everyone knows this, from small to large: the spread of influenza viruses is carried out by airborne droplets. The smallest viruses "hide" in no less small particles that are released at the time of a cough and sneezing push from the mouth and respiratory organs of the diseased. Almost all people who hear close to a sneezing or cough, try to turn away or move as far as possible - this behavior can already be considered a category of acquired instincts. But, as it turned out, for the ill, it does not really matter how to spread the viruses. At the same time, he can not cough or sneeze: the flu spread around the patient even during normal breathing.
 
Scientists representing the University of Maryland, monitored the condition and behavior of nearly a hundred and fifty people with influenza infection. In some patients, the first clinical signs of the disease appeared yesterday or today, and in others - a couple of days ago.

 People with flu were observed: someone coughed or sneezed, and someone just breathed. The air, which was released from the respiratory organs of the participants for 30 minutes, was sent for examination regarding the presence of viruses in it. At the same time, the presence of viruses was determined both for RNA and for whole particles of the virus.
 
Approximately in every second case, when taking air samples in patients without signs of coughing or sneezing in suspended particles, there were relatively many RNA viruses. And in the overwhelming majority of these samples contained whole particles of viruses.
 
Thus, as already noted, a person who has become infected with influenza infection "divides" the virus even when performing normal respiratory movements, and coughing and sneezing for distribution is not at all necessary. In addition, the researchers found that at the time of sneezing, the concentration of the virus in the air is not as high as previously thought. Therefore, sneezing can be even less dangerous in terms of the spread of the virus than the normal breathing of a sick person. According to experts, it is the breath that gives the viruses to the surrounding atmosphere.
 
Information obtained during the research can be an impetus to the creation of new, more effective preventive measures aimed at reducing the spread of viral infections (possibly not only the flu but also other ARVIs, which are airborne infected). It is likely that specialists in the field of epidemiology will further more objectively determine the potential danger and prevalence of seasonal viral attacks.
 
Make certain conclusions should be and ordinary people. If the person does not cough and sneeze at the initial stage of the flu, then this can not mean that he has the right to go out into society. Even through ordinary breathing, a diseased subject can, without knowing it himself, transmit the disease to a large number of people.

Details are presented on the pages of PNAS.

trusted-source[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]

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